US State Dept. approves $500 mln military sale to Saudi Arabia
CGTN
["china"]
The US State Department on Wednesday approved a possible military sale to Saudi Arabia for continued missile system support services for an estimated cost of 500 million US dollars.
According to an announcement published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency under the US Defense Ministry, the agency notified Congress of the sale on Wednesday.
According to the document, Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase continued participation, technical assistance, and support in the Patriot Legacy Field Surveillance Program (FSP), the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) FSP and the Patriot Engineering Services Program (ESP). 
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) attend the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (R) attend the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The purchase list also included Patriot and HAWK Missile System spare parts, repair and return management services, component repairs and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The principal contractors are Lockheed Martin for the FSP and Raytheon Company for the ESP. Support teams of four to 10 people will travel to Saudi Arabia on a temporary basis for one to three weeks at a time.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said this proposed sale, a continuation of current support, would help improve Riyadh's security.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency